Yesterday, I decided to get the picture printed so that I can proudly display my 3 girls in my office. Online, I sent the picture to a local drugstore (a national chain) to get printed. After receiving an email telling me that my order was complete and ready for pickup, Katie and I took a walk to pick up the picture.
Katie and I stood in line at the photography counter for the picture. When it was finally our turn, the associate looked for our picture for a moment, and returned with the message, "We can't print the picture you ordered."
"Why not?" I questioned. "I got an email saying that it was done."
"Because it is a professional picture, and you need to bring authorization from the photographer allowing you to print the picture."
I responded, "I'm flattered you guys think it is a professional picture, but, actually, I took the picture."
"Umm...no. You're in the picture."
"That's because I used an infrared shutter release."
"A what?"
"A remote control."
"Look," the associate continued, "This picture was clearly taken in a studio."
"Actually, my wife put up a black background, and we took the picture in our living room."
"This was clearly taken with studio lighting, not living room lighting."
"Well, I used an external flash and manually set the white-balance, but that was taken in our living room."
"Hmmmfff," the associate sighed. "Sounds like you have a come-back for everything. I'm going to get my manager."
The manager came and had a discussion about the picture with me and Katie (Katie even explained that Daddy took the picture at home).
Finally, the manager agreed to sell us a print of the picture if I would sign a statement stating that I "was or claimed to be" the photographer that took the picture, and that I agreed to indemnify the store against any copyright infringement lawsuit. I wasn't expecting it to be nearly that tough to print our family portrait.
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